Truck Accidents

Lancaster Merging Accident Lawyers

Accomplished representation when drivers fail to merge properly in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Cars, trucks, and other vehicles sometimes need to merge when they enter a highway from an on-ramp or another road. Drivers may also merge when there is construction or a detour that requires merging into fewer traffic lanes. At KBG Injury Law, our lawyers understand the proper and improper ways to merge. Our Lancaster truck accident lawyers hold drivers liable when they hit your car, force you into other cars, or cause you to steer off the road or into an obstruction. We demand full compensation for your pain and suffering and financial damages.

 

Truck Accident Settlement

$1.625 Million

Settlement for a tractor trailer crash involving a trailer that was loaded improperly allowing load to shift.

[Settlements & Verdicts]

Practice Areas

Lancaster Truck Accidents

How can we help you today?

What do drivers need to consider when they merge in Lancaster?

The basic reality is that two vehicles cannot occupy the same spot at the same time. When cars move into other lanes or on/off ramps, one driver has to yield to the other driver. The faster either car is going, the more difficult it can be to decide which car has the right of way. Generally, the car that is moving into another lane must yield to the driver who is already in that lane.

According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

Entrance ramps for highways often have acceleration lanes. These lanes run beside main traffic lanes and should be long enough to allow you to accelerate to the speed of traffic before you enter the highway itself. These lanes also allow drivers on the highway to see you before you enter.

Determining which car has the right of way is more difficult when two vehicles are both merging from outside lanes into a middle lane.

Drivers should consider the following factors when merging:

  • Ensure they look to their side and behind them (such as by using a rearview mirror) so they can have a full perspective of all travel lanes.
  • Estimate the speed of all the vehicles involved.
  • Examine how much room they have to complete the merge.
  • Examine how fast (or slow) they can move after they complete the merge to avoid contact with other cars.
  • Make other calculations depending on the speed limit, the number of cars in the various lanes, the weather, and many other factors.

What are the different types of merging accidents?

Our Lancaster merging accident lawyers handle all types of merging accidents, including when a driver:

  • Is entering a new lane from an off-ramp
  • Is entering a new lane from another road
  • Is entering a road from a parking lot or a road shoulder
  • Is forced to switch lanes due to construction or because their lane is ending
  • Other circumstances

At KBG Injury Law, we work with investigators, the police, and traffic reconstruction experts to show just how your merging accident happened.

Merging accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Rear-end collisions. Here, a car behind you may strike you because you do not merge quickly enough (and because the car behind you is impatient). When you complete your merge, if you do not speed up, a car in the lane you are entering can rear-end you. You may rear-end a car in front of you if you speed up too quickly.
  • Sideswipe accidents. Cars that are both trying to occupy the same lane can strike the side of each other. This type of merge accident can cause cars nearby to collide, can cause one of the cars to veer into barriers or other cars, and can create other types of accidents.
  • Truck accidents. Merging accidents are especially difficult if you are trying to move into a lane where a truck is nearby because visibility around the truck becomes difficult. Trucks that try to merge into your lane are often frightening because they can be deadly or cause catastrophic injuries.
  • Blind spot accidents. Drivers need to be aware of their blind spots when they merge and also aware of the blind spots of the vehicles in the other lanes.

Why do merging accidents happen in Lancaster?

At KBG Injury Law, we hold drivers accountable when they merge improperly. Some of the many reasons a driver may be liable for improper merging in Lancaster include:

  • Failing to understand who has the right of way
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Failing to check for blind spots
  • Driving too fast or too slow to properly complete the merge
  • Failing to wait for traffic to pass before completing a merge
  • Failing to courteously alternate which car merges when traffic is backed up – such as when construction work requires that many cars merge around the same time
  • Not adjusting the speed of the vehicle after the merge is completed
  • Failing to be aware of the drivers behind the driver who is merging
  • Driving while distracted by drinking, texting, or using a cell phone instead of focusing on the merge
  • Failing to look for the turn signals of the car that is merging
  • Merging across several lanes of traffic
  • Merging into a lane that other cars, from different lanes, are also merging into
  • Driving too closely – failing to give the driver in front the time and distance they need to merge
  • Road rage – some merging accidents happen because a driver forces a merge when patience is the better recourse

Who is responsible for a merging accident in Lancaster?

Generally, in Pennsylvania:

  • The driver who is entering a new lane is primarily responsible for any merging accidents that occur.
  • A driver who rear-ends a car in front of them is responsible for the car accident.
  • A driver who speeds, drives while intoxicated, or drives while distracted is responsible for a merging accident.

Our Lancaster merging accident lawyers first work to show how the accident occurred. It is possible that multiple drivers may be responsible. Pennsylvania law provides that you can still file a personal injury claim if you are partly responsible – provided you are not more responsible than the other driver. The amount of your recovery will be reduced by your degree of fault.

How can drivers prevent merging accidents?

A few of the practical ways to reduce the risk of a merging accident include:

  • Using your turn signal
  • Avoiding following too closely to vehicles in front of you
  • Respecting the right of the driver in the lane you are entering to proceed in front of you
  • Leaving yourself enough time and distance to speed up to adjust your speed after you finish the merge
  • Being extra-cautious

Do you have a Lancaster truck accident lawyer near me?

Yes. We meet clients at 1776 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601. If your injuries are too severe to travel, we can make arrangements to see you at your home or a healthcare facility. We also discuss cases by phone and online through video calls on platforms like Zoom and Facetime.

Our lawyers are ready to guide you calmly and clearly through each step of the claims process.

Get help from our experienced Lancaster merging accident lawyers today

Merging accidents often cause serious, permanent, and catastrophic injuries. At KBG Injury Law, we demand compensation for all your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. We have more than 200 years of combined experience fighting for truck accident victims. Our record of success includes many verdicts and settlements for millions and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Please call us or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation. KBG Injury Law also maintains offices in York, Harrisburg, Hanover, and Gettysburg.